"Tomorrow" Might Be Too Late!

             A friend and longtime member of my Sunday School class passed away last week.  She had been in a nursing home for over a year, but her death still seemed sudden.  She had very little family—just an aunt and some cousins, so her church family was her family.  She was a “people” person, and I think that for her, one of the worst things about being in the nursing home was that she was alone.  She was confined to her bed, so unless people came to her, she had no one to talk to.

            I went to visit her several times, sometimes with other friends and sometimes alone.  At first, she welcomed the gifts of puzzle books and sweet treats, especially brownies, but the last time I visited, it was obvious that she was beginning to decline.  Every time I tried to leave, she kept calling me back.  I even made it to the hallway once before she called my name.  She hated being alone. 

            Last week I planned to visit her again.  It was the perfect week for me as I had nothing on my schedule all week.  Then, the hot, humid weather hit us hard here in Louisville.  While I usually boast about my love for the summer and the heat, I must admit this last week has been too much for even me.  So, I took the easy way out and decided it was too hot to travel across town for a visit.  I thought I would do it once things cooled off. 

Now, she’s gone, and all I have are regrets and feeble excuses.  So why do I tell you this?  We all have things that we know we should do, but we find excuses to put them off or maybe even ignore them altogether.  My advice is, “Don’t put off until tomorrow to do what you know you should do today!”  Tomorrow just might be too late.  It was for me. 

My only consolation is that my friend is no longer alone.  She’s dancing on the streets of heaven and talking everyone’s ear off!  She now has the peace that the infirmities of this life took from her, and she has rejoined family and friends.  If there is someone you have been thinking about calling, or sending a card, or visiting, stop right now and DO IT!  Don’t wait until it’s too late to show you care.

James 4: 13 – 17

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